Analysis: 2015 outlook good for Miami Hurricanes baseball

The MLB draft concluded Saturday, with seven former Hurricanes and four high school signees drafted.

So what now for UM, which finished 44-17 last season but bowed out in a disappointing regional loss?

Sophomore Derik Beauprez will be a part of the Hurricanes’ rotation in 2015. (Getty Images)

First, it appears coach Jim Morris will get a contract extension, according to a Miami Herald report. He will have to replace his entire starting rotation and three position players, but he may not find that an arduous task.

(Here’s more on Andrew Suarez, Chris Diaz, Dale Carey, Bryan Radziewski, Javi Salas and Gonzalez, who were chosen in the first 10 rounds of the draft.)

Pitching

Suarez, Diaz, Radziewski were UM’s weekend starters last season, which ended in last weekend’s Coral Gables Regional. Salas was a valuable midweek starter.

Of the four signees who were drafted, all but one is likely to attend college instead of turning pro. That’s Brian Gonzalez, who was the first player the Baltimore Orioles selected (albeit in the third round).

Next year’s rotation will certainly include sophomore-to-be Derik Beauprez, who was impressive in a regional start. It will likely include freshman right-hander Andy Honiotes, who was supposed to enroll last spring after signing with UM and had his arrival delayed due to Tommy John surgery. He took classes at Miami-Dade College last season.

Three sophomores who pitched plenty last year as freshmen – Danny Garcia, Thomas Woodrey and closer Bryan Garcia – will also get a look. The latter Garcia had 15 saves and was named a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association freshman All-American (with teammate Zack Collins). He may be too valuable in relief to move, but UM may need more innings.

Lineup

The loss of three starting position players – Carey, Tyler Palmer and Palm Beach Central High alum Alex Hernandez – leaves holes in center, left and at second base, respectively. UM should be OK there, too.

Incoming freshman CarlChester brings elite speed – he was widely considered the fastest high school player in the draft – and projects to start in center and lead off. Left field is a bit less clear; sophomore JasonHeyward or freshman JustinSmith (6-2, 205), from St. John’s-Bartram Trail, could play there. Willie Abreu, who struggled with injuries down the stretch, remains in right.

UM could move slick-fielding third baseman Johnny Ruiz to second base and replace him with junior college transfer George Iskenderian, who began his college career at South Carolina but played last season at Indian River State. Ruiz was all-around impressive as a freshman.

Iskenderian, who hit .373 at IRSC last year, could also play second. Brandon Lopez (and his excellent range and arm strength) is locked in at short, while at first base will be David Thompson, who if healthy could produce like he did as a freshman in 2013 (.286, team-high 6 HR and 46 RBI).

The middle of the lineup should be good with Zack Collins (.298, team-high 11 HR and 54 RBI), Thompson and Abreu. Collins, who on Monday was named National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association freshman of the year, will catch full-time unless Garrett Kennedy rebounds from a down year. If he can do that, Collins will DH. Aside from Carey, Palmer and Hernandez, UM’s only noteworthy loss is pinch-hitter/first baseman Brad Fieger, who hit .214 in 187 at-bats.